Measuring tape stop devices



B. L. SNYDER MEASURING TAPE STOP DEVICES Filed Sept. 16, 1965 INVENTOR,Benjamin L. Snyder,

ATTORNEY.

3,324,560 MEASURING TAPE STOP DEVICES Benjamin L. Snyder, Elizabeth,N..l., assignor to lentapco, Inc, Elizabeth, N.J., a corporation of NewJersey Filed Sept. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 487,734 9 Claims. (Cl. 33-138) Thepresent invention is in the art of flexible steel measuring tapes whichwind up within a casing from which they are withdrawn to any desiredextent as need be, and in particular, this invention relates to devicesfor limiting tape movement.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a novel device tostop tape withdrawn from the casing, from reentering beyond a selectedreading thereon.

Another object thereof is to provide a stop device of the charactermentioned, which is simple in construction, capable of being associatedwith existing steel tape measures, very reasonable in cost tomanufacture, easy to use and efiicient in carrying out the purposes forwhich it is designed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this disclosureproceeds.

For the practice of this invention, the stop device is essentially acollar structure through which the tape is free, but upon shifting saidcollar in a direction across the tape, the collar becomes releasablysecured thereto by a clamping action. Then upon shifting the collar inthe opposite direction, the tape is freed for longitudinal motiontherethrough.

Various embodiments of this stop device are described herein, and shownin the accompanying drawing which is part of this specification, inwhich drawing, similar characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in all the views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of stop device embodyingteachings of this invention, shown in condition ready to be mounted on atape.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing said device mounted on a tape.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a stop device of modified construction,in condition ready to be mounted on a tape.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the stop device shown in FIG. 3, as itappears on a tape, that is, FIG. 4 is the collar structure made of theitem shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an end view of another collar construction.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the collar of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of another collar structure.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of parts of another collar structure, shownin perspective.

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of the collar which is made of the partsshown in FIG. 8.

In the drawing, the numeral designates generally a collar structuremounted as a slide on the flexible, graduated steel tape 16, whichextends from a tape measure casing 17, in which it winds up as a coiland from which it can be withdrawn only up to a certain length. Somecasings include spring means biasing the tape to wind up, while othershave no such provision, but require that the tape be pushed in by hand,whereupon it winds up inside the casing. Since casing structure and itsinternal appurtenances to effect tape wind-up are no part of thisinvention, further details thereof are believed unnecessary for they arewell known to those versed in the art.

The collar 15 is made up of the two parts indicated generally by thenumerals 18 and 19 respectively; each being an elongated piece. Theseare swivelly joined at one end by any suitable means as for instance ascrew 20. The other end of the part 18 has a notch 21, to engage3,324,569 Patented June 13, 1967 a hooleform 22 which is at the otherend of the part 19. Said parts are preferably of a transparent plastichaving some resilient quality. The collar 15 is movable up and backacross the tape 16. In one position of the collar on the tape, the tapeis free for longitudinal movement through the collar, but upon shiftingsaid collar in one direction across the tape, the tape enters a reducedportion of the collars hole, where it is frictionally engaged, and so isreleasably fixed to the collar, which is another way of saying that thecollar becomes releasably fixed to the tape and hence acts as a stopwhen intercepted by the casing 17.

The collar 15 is made openable so it can be mounted on tape measures inbeing, for the collars hole cannot admit and of necessity need besmaller than is required to allow passage therethrough of the tapes freeend stop tab 23. It is readily understandable without furtherillustration, that the collar may be a solid piece with a proper holetherethrough, if it is to be mounted on the tape at the factory beforethe stop tab 23 is affixed.

As particularly shown in FIG. 2, the collar 15 is shown in fixedposition on the tape 16, at a setting where the first 4% inches of thetape is exposed. It is practical to have the dimension of the collaralong the tape to be one-half inch. Presuming that the dimension of thecasing 17 in the line of the tape is two inches, as many commercialforms are, then the arrangement shown in FIG. 2 shows a reading of 4%inches along a line or surface, or a computed reading of 6% inchesbetween spaced opposite surfaces, commonly called an inside reading aswhen measuring the distance between opposite inside walls of a windowframe to determine the required width of a Venetian blind or windowshade, suitable therefor.

The general scheme of the hole structure indicated by the numeral 24, issubstantially the same in all of the different embodiments of collarconstructions shown in the drawing, namely, when the tape 16 is throughone section of the hole, it is free for longitudinal movement throughthe collar, and when laterally shifted into another section of the hole,it is frictionally gripped by the collar, so the collar is releasablyfixed to the tape.

The collar shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, has the parts 18' and 19' which aresimilar to the parts 18 and 19 respectively, and is made of plasticmaterial possessing some resilient quality so it is bendable in theshort, thin section 25 connecting said parts 18, 19', as a hinge 25'.The hole 24 is essentially identical to the hole 24, and comprises asection 26 through which the tape is free to slide longitudinally, andthe reduced section 27, which is a slit. This slit may be offered by aslight opening as 28 in FIG. 6, or the parts 18, 19' may be in contact,but such slit is slightly opened upon insertion of the tape 16 therein,because of the resiliency or slight lo-oseness oifered by the collarstructure. When the tape is through such slit section, it isfrictionally tightly gripped by the collar, from which it is releasableby a lateral shift of the tape.

The two parts 29, 30 are joined at their ends by the screws 31 and 32,to complete the collar structure 33 illustrated in FIG. 7. In FIGS. 8and 9, the tenon 34 at one end of the part 35 fits into the mortise 36in the lateral extension 37 at the corresponding end of the part 33;said parts 35 and 38, being joined at their other ends by the screw 39,to complete the collar structure 40, shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In FIG. 6,the parts 41 and 42 are integral at one end and joined by the screw 43at the other end, to complete the collar structure 44.

The said screws being removable, it is evident that the collarstructures of FIGS. 6, 7 and 9, are openable, as of course are thecollar structures of FIGS. 2 and 4, as indicated in the FIGS. 1 and 3respectively, so each may be mounted on a tape of tape measures alreadyhaving a tab as 23. It is preferred that the hole for the tape in everycollar structure, shall have one flat wall for the tape to constantlyrest on, in order to facilitate traverse movement of the tape to andfrom the hole sections, where in one hole section it is loose, and inthe other it is frictionally held.

The collar structure 15, set to be engaged on the tape 16 as shown inFIG. 2, exposes the tape to the extent of 4% inches, and acts as a stopagainst the casing 17, holding the tape from retracting into the casing.In such condition, the device is usea-ble to measure oif one or morelengths of 4% inches. If for instance the width of a board is to bemeasured, the tab 23 is placed against one longitudinal edge of suchboard, and the casing is pulled to withdraw tape. The collar is thenshifted towards the tab 23, to contact the other longitudinal edge ofthe board; the tape of course being in the larger hole section in thecollar 15. Upon establishing such contact, the collar 15 is shifted in adirection across the tape, so the latter shall become engaged in theslit section of the hole 24, as is specifically shown in FIG. 2. Theexposed portion of the tape 16, would indicate the width of the boardbeing measured, and if the collar 15 would be locked on the tape asshown in FIG. 2, then 4% inches is the board width. If for instance ameasurement is to be taken between two opposite walls, the tab 23 isheld on one of them while the loosened collar 15 is slid along the tapebeing withdrawn from the casing, until the remote vertical edge of thecasing 17 is in contact with the other of said walls. Now, the collar 15is shifted across the tape to become frictionally locked thereon. Theuser can remove the device from between the walls and take the readingas heretofore set forth, for the tape is stopped from entering thecasing.

It is advisable to make one size collar structure to fit tapes ofdifferent widths. Tape widths usually start at about one-quarter of aninch. So if the larger portion of the hole 24 can loosely carry a tapewhich is one-half inch wide, ,it is also suitable for tapes of smallerwidth, so a dealer in these tape attachments need only carry two sizes,to accommodate all customers, and of course, only two sizes need bemanufactured, because tape widths in commerce do not exceed one inch.

These stop collar structures Work equally well whether the tape 16 isflat or transversely arched.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applicationswithout departing from the essential features herein set forth. It istherefore intended and desired that the embodiments described hereinshall be deemed merely illustrative and not restrictive and that thepatent shall cover all patentable novelty herein set forth; referencebeing had to the following claims rather than to the specific showingsand description herein, to indicate the scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. The combination with the graduated flexible steel tape of a tapemeasure of the type in which the tape is withdrawable from andretractable into a casing wherein it is wound up automatically, of astop means comprising a collar structure carried on the tape exteriorthe casing; said tape being through the hole in said collar structure;said hole having a wall and having one section through which the tape isfree for longitudinal movement and a second section into which the tapeis shiftable by a lateral movement whereupon said tape and collarstructure are in relatively tight frictional engagement, whereby saidcollar structure acts as a stop when against the casing, so the tape isrestrained from movement into the casing; the wall of said holeincluding a fiat portion common to both hole sections, and said tapebeing manually slidable laterally from one hole section into the other,on and along said flat wall portion which is common to both holesections.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the collar structurecomprises at least two normally fixed parts, one of which is releasablefor movement in relation to the other and which when moved, will createan opening in the collar structure along the hole, through which openingthe tape can be moved laterally out of and into the collar structure.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the collar structureincludes two parts, each having two ends, means at the first ends ofeach of said parts, releasably connecting said ends, and means at theother ends of said parts, hingedly connecting said other ends; saidparts being spaced between said means whereby the space between themconsitutes the hole of the collar structure.

4. The combination as defined in claim 3, wherein the axis of the hingeconnection is perpendicular to the plane of the tape.

5. The combination as defined in claim 3, wherein the axis of the hingeconnection is parallel to the tape.

6. The combination as defined in claim 3, wherein the releasableconnection constitutes a hook at the first end of one of said parts,releasably engaged in a notch provided in the first end of the other ofsaid parts; at least said hook having some resilient quality.

7. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the collar structureincludes two parts, each having two ends; the first ends of each of saidparts being connected; said parts being spaced at their second ends andcontinuing spaced a predetermined distance towards their first ends, anda removable element across said space at said second ends; the spacebetween said parts, extending from said element towards said first ends,constituting the hole of said collar structure; said tape beinglaterally removable from said collar structure, when said element ismoved out of said space.

8. The combination as defined in claim 7, wherein the first ends of saidparts of the collar structure, are integral.

9. The combination as defined in claim 7, wherein the first end of oneof the parts presents a tenon in extension thereof, and the first end ofthe other of said parts has a lateral extension provided with a mortise;said tenon being fitted in said mortise.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 421,133 2/1890 Grierson 33-1381,057,543 4/1913 Green 242-1072 1,876,744 9/1932 Posgate 33-138 XR2,048,969 7/1936 Ritter 33-l38 LEONARD FORMAN, Primary Examiner.

JOEL M. FREED, Assistant Examiner.

1. THE COMBINATION WITH THE GRADUATED FLEXIBLE STEEL TAPE OF A TAPEMEASURE OF THE TYPE IN WHICH THE TAPE IS WITHDRAWABLE FROM ANDRETRACTABLE INTO A CASING WHEREIN IT IS WOUND UP AUTOMATICALLY, OF ASTOP MEANS COMPRISING A COLLAR STRUCTURE CARRIED ON THE TAPE EXTERIORTHE CASING; SAID TAPE BEING THROUGH THE HOLE IN SAID COLLAR STRUCTURE;SAID HOLE HAVING A WALL AND HAVING ONE SECTION THROUGH WHICH THE TAPE ISFREE FOR LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT AND A SECOND SECTION INTO WHICH THE TAPEIS SHIFTABLE BY A LATERAL MOVEMENT WHEREUPON SAID TAPE AND COLLARSTRUCTURE ARE IN RELATIVELY TIGHT FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT, WHEREBY SAIDCOLLAR STRUCTURE ACTS AS A STOP WHEN AGAINST THE CASING, SO THE TAPE ISRESTRAINED FROM MOVEMENT INTO THE CASING; THE WALL OF SAID HOLEINCLUDING A FLAT PORTION COMMON TO BOTH HOLD SECTIONS, AND SAID TAPEBEING MANUALLY SLIDABLE LATERALLY FROM ONE HOLE SECTION INTO THE OTHER,ON AND ALONG SAID FLAT WALL PORTION WHICH IS COMMON TO BOTH HOLESECTIONS.